In the 1980s, prominent broad lines appeared in the optical spectrum of Mrk 1018, a black-hole system and it was classified as a Sy1. The leading explanation for this change is that the accretion rate onto the black hole increased, energizing more of the gas and expanding the size of the broad-line region. But in 2016 it was found that in the past five years, Mrk 1018 had returned to its original state. This unusual transition is thought to be due to a decrease in the black-hole accretion rate.

Stephane Javelle discovered IC 1781 = J. 3-915 on 8 Oct 1896 and noted "faint, round, 15" to 20" diameter, stellar nucleus mag 14."

600/800mm - 24" (12/28/16): at 432x; faint, very small, round, 20" diameter, low surface brightness patch with no structure. UGC 1597 = Mrk 1018 is 16' NW and logged as fairly faint, slightly elongated N-S, 25"x20". Two 13th magnitude stars are 50" NW and 1.0' W and a mag 14.5 star is 1.0' ESE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb